Luke 24:5 – In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (NIV)

Early this year, a friend asked me to share a devotional for the ladies' conference at her church. She asked me to speak on the theme, "Sisters in Christ" and what it means to be a family of believers, encouraging one another, especially in difficult times.

As I started to write my thoughts, I considered how it all began — with the women who stood by the cross and who later discovered the empty tomb. I can only imagine the experience that they shared — not only their grief, but the unspeakable joy of seeing the risen Lord — and it must have strengthened their relationships and changed their lives forever.

I love the question that the angels posed in today's verse. It challenged the women to focus on the empty tomb. Just prior to this miraculous event, they had worried about the size of the stone and how they were going to roll it away; however, they worried for naught. Still, even when they saw that the grave was open, they approached fully expecting to render their ministry of anointing the dead body of Jesus.

Contemplating the angels' profound question is significant for individuals as well as for the church in today's times.

The Lord is life. He cannot be found among dead idols, false religions, or the material things of this world; rather, He is found only in the living things of the Spirit.

Matthew 22:31-32 – But about the resurrection of the dead — have you not read what God said to you, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not the God of the dead but of the living. (NIV)

Romans 8:11 – And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (NIV)

Therefore, why look for the living among the dead? Or why quench His life-giving Spirit? May the risen Lord be alive in each of us! As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be united in fellowship through the power of His love.

Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge that You alone are the living God. Enable us to experience anew the resurrection power of our risen Saviour while we lift our hearts in praise to You. May we, Your church, be united as brothers and sisters in Christ, striving together for the faith, and proclaiming to a dying world, "He is not here; He has risen!" to Your honour and glory. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lori Ciccanti <dlalsina@mchsi.com>
Ocean View, Delaware, USA
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